A vibrant French-speaking community

Monument to the French-speaking world

In the heart of Ontario, St. Albert stands out as a jewel of Francophone heritage. Our small community has etched its Franco-Ontarian history over the years.

The Franco-Ontarian flag: A symbol of identity

The story begins on September 25, 1975 in Sudbury, when the Franco-Ontarian flag was raised for the first time. Two squares, a white lily on a green background near the flagpole, symbolizing belonging to the worldwide Francophonie, and a green trillium on a white background further away, representing Ontario’s floral emblem. The green and white colors evoke the summers and winters that punctuate life in this region. In 2001, this flag was officially recognized as the emblem of Ontario’s French-speaking community.

On September 25, 2019, St-Albert wrote a new chapter in its history with the inauguration of the Monument de la Francophonie. Behind the school, on the grounds of the cheese factory, this imposing work stands proudly. An 80-foot flagpole, one of the tallest ever built, bears a Franco-Ontarian flag, symbolizing unity and pride. Granite, a robust material, was carefully chosen, representing the resilience of Franco-Ontarians. Black and gray accentuate the whole, guiding the eye to the central block, geographically positioned to the north. A tire tread evokes the ceaseless movement of agriculture, while a broken curve recalls the pitfalls of the past, symbolizing the perseverance of the Franco-Ontarian people.

The steel sculpture, stylized to reproduce St-Albert’s unique landscape, is mounted at an angle on a square striped according to latitude and longitude, and becomes a gathering point. Black granite benches, recognizing the major partners, provide a space to contemplate this work that transcends time and space, a symbol of pride and identity.

The 17th Monument de la Francophonie was inaugurated on the Fromagerie site on September 25, 2019. Some 1,000 people celebrated this achievement, including 400 French-speaking students and 600 community members. François Bazinet, a St-Albert native and one of the instigators of the project, points out that the construction coincides with the 125th anniversary of Fromagerie St-Albert. Artist Jacques Meilleur, who designed the work, highlights the long curve representing the 400-year journey of Franco-Ontarians through struggles and victories. This new addition to the St-Albert landscape, between the cemetery and the elementary school, symbolizes the link between past and future generations. A visual testimony to the perseverance of an ever-evolving community.

Ever higher, ever stronger, we are, we will be.